Foreign tourists will be barred from going to Tibet until the end of July, the second time this year. China Travel Service in the regional capital Lhasa said the agency had received a notice saying the ban will remain in force until July 26. The Tibet Youth Travel Service agency confirmed the ban, saying it begins today and was linked to celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of China's rule over Tibet, reportedly scheduled for July. The official Global Times newspaper quoted the Lhasa-based manager of a travel website as saying they would not accept tourists holding foreign passports until mid-August due to safety concerns. However, a spokesman for the Tibetan government, when contacted by a news agency, said he was unaware of the situation.